Summary CJP Tassaduq Hussain Jillani has said that all institutions must protect democracy.
ISLAMABAD (Online) - Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani has said protecting democracy is the most sacred duty of all courts and the Supreme Court (SC) in particular.
“All of us, the Bench and the Bar, the Government and all institutions must protect democracy. This protective role is the most sacred duty of all courts and the Supreme Court in particular. We have to protect the constitutional values of democracy, of religious tolerance, of human dignity and providing inexpensive and expeditious justice, he said this while addressing a full court reference held in honor of Justice Khilji Arif Hussain on the eve of his retirement Friday.
He said as judges, our primary duty lies in preserving and promoting the rights embedded within the Constitution. As our country faces a multitude of battles; against terrorism; against sectarian violence and ethnic cleansing of minorities and on weakened rights for women and children, it is our duty, as a pillar of this State, to hold fast to belief in the seminal values of the rule of law, of human dignity, of tolerance and of compassion.
He went on to say the Constitution makers wanted to implement social, economic and political justice for which vision has been embedded in the Constitution through Fundamental Rights and the principles of policy. These signposts are the basis of all legislative and executive actions. To ensure that these goals are pursued by each organ of the state; that no organ acts beyond the role assigned to it under the Constitution and the law, as also to protect the people from arbitrary rule, the judiciary has been entrusted with the sacred task to arbiter between the state and individual, between the individuals inter se, and to issue appropriate directions, where the rights or the laws are being violated.
He remarked “We are passing through difficult times, facing the menace of terrorism and confronting an existential crisis. While fighting terrorism and protecting democracy, we need to strike a proper balance between the conflicting values and principles i.e. the value of security of the State and individual rights. Such rights cannot justify undermining the national security.
He said Justice Arif Khilji, has devoted his prudent insight, legal acumen and insightful mind to the development of the rule of law in our country.
